Peter Ward, Ship Carpenter
Living and Working in a Neighborhood of Artisans
For the better part of the 19th Century Searsport shores were busy with shipbuilding and supporting industries. Close to the yards were steam sheds for bending timbers and planking, blacksmith shops, oakum shops, an iron foundry and a sail loft. The vessels were Searsport built and owned, often with the captain, the builder and local citizens owning shares. Peter Ward arrived in Searsport from Ireland in 1850 and found work as a ship carpenter in the Carver Shipyard. He built the house at 7 Leach Street and made much of the furniture in it, showing his skill as a fine cabinet maker. Some of his tools can be seen at the Penobscot Marine Museum. The diagram shows the cluster of houses, shops, and industries and two views of vessel construction, which supported shipping and provided the underpinning of the economy of Searsport.
Marker is at the intersection of East Main Street (Rt. US-1) and Leach Street, on the right when traveling east on East Main Street (Rt. US-1).
Courtesy hmdb.org
